Ann Rehabil Med.  2020 Jun;44(3):195-202. 10.5535/arm.19101.

Balance Ability in Low Back Pain Patients With Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Evaluated With Tetrax: A Matched Case-Control Study

• Kim KH
• Leem MJ
• Yi TI
• Kim JS
• Yoon SY

• KMID: 2504439
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.19101

Abstract

Objective
To compare postural balance ability in patients with low back pain between groups with and without lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Methods
Patients who were referred for electromyography because of low back pain during the period from April 2017 through June 2018 were chosen as subjects. They were divided into groups with and without lumbosacral radiculopathy based on the results of electromyography. We used Tetrax (Sunlight Medical Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel) to objectively evaluate postural balance ability, and to measure the fall risk, stability index, weight distribution index, and Fourier index.
Results
Patients in the lumbosacral radiculopathy group showed significantly higher fall risk (73.25 vs. 38.00; p<0.05), weight distribution index (8.57 vs. 5.00; p<0.05), and stability index (21.19 vs. 13.16; p<0.05) than those in the group without lumbosacral radiculopathy. The Fourier index at high-medium frequency was significantly increased in the lumbosacral radiculopathy group (8.27 vs. 5.56; p<0.05), whereas weight-bearing on the side of radiculopathy was significantly decreased.
Conclusion
Patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy have decreased postural balance compared with patients without this condition. Somatosensory disturbances in lumbosacral radiculopathy might cause postural balance impairment. Assessment and treatment plan not only for pain reduction but also for postural balance improvement should be considered in the management of patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Keyword

Radiculopathy; Postural balance; Back pain; Somatosensory disorders; Elcetomyographyy

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Tetra-ataxiometric posturography (Tetrax; Sunlight Medical Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel).

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  Fig. 2. Comparison of Fourier index between the two groups. LS, lumbosacral. *p<0.05.

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